Apparatus for automatically separating liquids of different specific gravities



March 18 1924. 1,486,936

y n n J. SWENDEMAN APPAHIUS FOP AU'YOMA'I. LILY SEPARATLNG LIQUIDS OFDIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVJTIES Filed April 29. 1920 2 Shees-Sheet l 1.Mlle dr- @f D \7f Iii/vewor: E7 12786; HESwen/dernan' March 18 1924.1,486,936

, J. E. SWENDEMAN APPARATUS FOR AITOMATICALLY SEPARAT-[NG LQUIDS OFDIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITlES Filed April 29, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. SWENDEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOB. AUTOMATICALLY SEPARATING LIQUIDS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFICGBJLVITIES.

Application filed April 29, 1920.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. SWENDE- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus forAutomatically Separating Liquids of Different Specific Gravities, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a speciiication, like characters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts. f

This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically separatingliquids of different specific gravities, and'will be best understood byreference to the following description, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, while itsscope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of aliquid separating apparatus exemplifying my invention, the parts beingshown in the position which they occupy when the valveis closed;

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, ofthe valve mechanism, showing the parts in the positions which theyoccupy when the valve is open; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line k3--3 lof Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention which Ihave selected for exemplification, I have vshown (see Fig. l) areceptacle, herein comprising a shell or body 5 and abase 7, suitablysecured together as by bolts 9, a gasket 11 being provided to maintain atight joint between the body and the base. In the present embodiment,the receptacle is closed at the top, and the apparatus is capable ofoperation under pressure above that of the atmosphere.

The combined liquids, such as gasoline and water, enter the receptaclethrough an inlet 13, with which is preferably associated a tubularstrainer 15, whose interior is in direct communication with the inlet atone end of the strainer, while the other end communicates with asediment blow-off 17, normally closed by a suitable valve, herein a plug19. The latter may be removed at any Serial No. 377,503.

time, and accumulations of sediment discharged, even when the apparatusis in operation. l

The base 7 is preferably provided with a drain passage 21, normallyclosed by a suitable valve, herein a plug 23, which may be removed toallow the contents to be drained oil". Preferably, the upper side of thebase is provided with a depression 25, 'from the lowest point of whichthe drain 21 leads in adownward direction, to ensure the completeemptying of the receptacle. The base is further provided with adischarge passage 27 for the heavier liquid, such as water.

At a suitable point above the discharge passage 27 is an outlet passage29 for the lighter liquid such as gasoline, and this outlet may be pipedto a tank (not shown) located at any convenient height above theapparatus. A suitable valve 31 may be provided to close the outlet 29,if desired.

The intention is to maintain the dividing level between the two liquidsintermediate the lower and upper outlets 27 and 29, thus ensuring at alltimes a liquid seal to prevent the accidental escape of the lighterliquid. This dividing level may be seen from the outside of thereceptacle by providing a gage glass 32, having upper and lowerconnections 35 and 37, with the chamber within the receptacle.

The outiow of the heavier liquid, in the present example, is controlledby a valve 39 (see Figs. 2 and 3) cooperating with valve seat 41,preferably having fiat, cooperating surfaces, the valve being preferablyprovided with a renewable disk 43. suitably securedthereto` as by ascrew 45`threaded into the valve. To secure theV best results', thevalve should be balanced, and herein I have provided the valve with astem 47, and the valve seat with an opening 49 of equal diameter. Whenthe valve isclosed, the top of the valve stem and the bottom of thevalve body are subjected to equal pressures within the receptacle` Thevalve is enclosed in a chamber 51 formed in the valve casing 53, thelatter having a guide 55 for the valve stem. The guide is hereinprovided with a body 57 threaded into the valve casing, thereby topermit removal of the valve and its seat from the top of the valvecasing, the seat to that end being threaded into the valve casing. Thevalve chamber 51 communicates by way of branch passages 59 and a Qinsegne main passage 6l (see Fig. 2) with the discharge passage 27,While the opening i9 in the valve seat 4l communicates by Way of ahorizontal passage 63 (see Fig. 3) with the interior of the receptacle.lt follows that When the valve is seated, communication between theinterior of the receptacle and the discharge 27 is closed, but when thevalve is unseated, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, communication is therebyestablished, and the heavier liquid in the receptacle flows in thecourse indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 into the horizontal passage 63,thence in an upward direction through the opening .t9 into the chamber5l, and thence (see Fig. 2) in a downward direction through the passages59 and 6l into the discharge 27. The valve easing is suitably secured tothe base 7, as by providing the same With a threaded shank, or nipple65, screwed into the base.

T he valve is operated by means responsive to changes in height of thedividing level of the liquids, and for this purpose, l have hereinprovided a suitable float 67 (see llig. l), appropriately connected withthe valve. rlhis connection might be direct, and in the present example,l have provided the float With a depending stein 69, which could bedirectly attached to the float stem e7, but l prefer to interposebetween the float and the valve an appropriate multiplying connectionfor the purpose of furnishing au increased lifting power. ln any event,the effective Weight of the iioat and its connected parts should be suchthat it Will sink in the lighter liquid and iloat in the heavierliquid.. To this end, l have herein provided the loat With a Weight 7lcarried by the float stein 69, as by providing the latter With ashoulder 73, on which the weight rests. The Weight has suitableprovision, whereby its mass may be varied, as by providing the weightwith a chamber 73, into which lead shot 75 may be introduced through auopening 77, normally closed by a threaded plug 79 (see Fig. 2). Thefloat stein 69 is mounted to slide in a vertical direction in upper andlower guides 8l and 83, the latter being herein formed integral with ayoke frame 85, into the upper end oit which the guide 81 is threaded.This traine is suitably supported on the valve casing as by providingthe latter with an upwardly eX- tending boss 87, threaded into the lowerend of the frame.

In ease it is desired to provide a multii'ilying connection between the'float and valve, I prefer to employ a lever 89, :tulcruined at 91 onthe frame 85, and having a forked end 93 straddling and pivoted to a cap95, the latter being threaded onto the upper end of the valve stem 4t?.The longer arm of the lever is herein connected by a link 97, to one endof a sliding javv 99, Whose other end is pivotally connected by a linklOl with the trarne The sliding jaw in the present example, is receivedin the circumferential groove 103, provided in guide consisting oi abushing 105 threaded into the Weight 7l. lt follows that When the lloatrises, the valve Will be correspond ingly opened and closed, but thetravel oit the valve will be shorter than that of the float; hence, thepower is multiplied, thus ensuring a factor of safety in case of unusual'riction which might develop 'troni any cause. Preferably, when 'thevalve is closed, the float stem 69 rises on the upper end of the cap 95en the valve stern el?, as shown in Fig. l. rlhis takes the strain oilthe connecting levers and linlrs. To this end, the bushing 105 may beadjusted vertically With reference to the float stem G9 by turning thebushing in the proper direction With reference to the Weight 71 intowhich it is tireaded.

rlhe general operation of the apparatus hereinbefore specificallydescribed is as lollows:

The combined liquids, such as Water and gasoline, are admitted throughthe inlet 13 into the body 5 oit the receptacle, and the heavier liquidWill naturally gravitate to- Ward the bottom of the receptacle. Thedividing level between the liquids, herein rep resented by the lineii-A, should be maintained substantially constant, and at a suitableheight above the discharge passage 27. As before stated, the floatshould be accurately leaded, so that it Will sink When sube merged inlighter liquid, but Will vfloat in heavier liquid. lt follows that thelloat cannot rise until there is a su'liicient body ot' Watersurrounding it, to give it the necessary buoyancy. TvVhen the proportionot the heavier liquid tends to increase, the float Will rise and openthe valve. thereby allowing some of the heavier liquid to be discharged.Villien the dividing level iii- A. falls to the predetermined point, thevalve will again close and maintain the seal. thus preventing anythingbut the heavier liquid from being emitted troni the bottom of thereceptacle.

Having thus described one embodiment ot my invention, but Withoutlimiting myself thereto, what l claim and desire by Letters Patent tosecure is:

Claims:

l. ln an apparatus for automatically separating liquids ot differentspeci tic gravities.

the combination of receptacle having anoutlet for the heavier liquid; afloat whose specific gravity is greater than that et the lighter liquidand less than that of the heavier liquid; a valve seat through which theliquid flows to said outlet; and a balanced valve which seats endWiseagainst said valve seat and is operated by said float.

2. ln an apparatus for automatically separating liquids et differentspeciiic gravities,

Leashes the combination oli a receptacle having an outlet for theheavier liquid; a float provided with a depending stein; a valvecontrolling` said outlet and provided with an upstanding` stem; and m isconnecting said stems to cause said re stein to fol low the moveme; tsaid float stein hut at a reduced travel.

3. In an apparatus tor separating liquids of different specificgrravities, the comhination of a receptacle; a valve casing within saidreceptacle, said casing having an interior chamber, an inlet leadingtrom the interior of said receptacle to said chamber, and an outletleading from said chamber to the exterior of said receptacle; a valvewithin said chamber and controlling the communication between said inletand said outlet, the pressure within said receptacle being;r exertedendwise said valve in a direction tending to open it into said chamber;und a iloat within said receptacle and tending; to close said val veagainst said pressure.

Il. In an apparatus ior separating,1 liquids ot different specificgravities, the combination ot a receptacle; a valve casing lievi;` aninterior chamber, an inlet leading from the interior of said receptacleto said chamber, and a valve seat presenting an outlet leading `fromsaid chamber to the exterior oi said receptacle; a valve within saidchamber and cooperating with said seat to control the communicationbetween said inlet and said Outlet, said valve having1 two substantie`ly equal areas, both subject to the pressure within said receptacle andone seatingendwise against said seat; and a float within said receptacleand controlling said valve.

5. In an apparatus for separating liquids oi different specincgrail/ities, the combination of a receptacle presenting); an outerchamber; a valve casing within said chanr ber, said casingr presentingan inner chamber, an inlet leading irom the said outer chamber to saidinner chamber, and an out* let leading from said inner chamber to theexterior oit said receptacle; valve within. said inner chainher,controllingr the cornmunication between said inlet and said outlet and,when closed, preventi the admission of liquid from said outer chamber tosaid inner chamber; valve seat against which said valve rests endwisewhen it is closed and from which it recedes when it opens; and a floatwithin said outer chamber and controllingW said valve.

6. In an apparatus ior separating liquids of dilerent specificgravities, the combination of a receptacle presenting an outer chamber;a valve casing` within said chamu her, said easing presenting an innerchaznher, an inlet leading from the said outer chamber to said innerchamber, and an out let leading from said inner chamber to the exteriorof said receptacle; a valve within said 1'nner chamber, controlling,rthe communication between said inlet and said outlet and, when closed,preventing1 the admission oi: liquid from said outer chamber to saidinner chamber; a valve seat against which valve rests endwise when it isclosed and trom which it recedes when it opens, said valve, when closedhaving two substantially equal areas, both subject to the pressurewithin said outer chamber; and a float within said outer chamber andcontrolsaid valve.

7. ln an apparatus :tor separating liquids et diderent specificgravities, the combination of receptacle presenting an outen' chamberhavingy an inlet for the combined` liquids, an upper outlet for thelighter liquid a lower outlet for the heavier liquid; a valve casingnwithin said chamber above said lower outlet, said casing presenting aninner chamber, inlet leading laterally from said outer chamber andupwardlji7 to said inner chamber, and an outlet leading downwarr ly fromsaid inner chamber to said lower outlet; a valve within said innerchamber, controlling the ycommunication hetween said chambers; anupwardly presented valve seat against which said valve seats endwise and1from which said valve recedes in upward direction when it opens; and afloat within. said outer chamber and controllinga said valve.

8. In an apparatus for handling liquids, the combination of a receptaclehaving an outlet tor the liquid; a Ltloat within said receptacle; avalve seat through which the liquid flows to said outlet; and afloat-controlled, balanced valve which seats endwise against said seatand, when seated, has its area within said seat exposed to the pressurewithin said receptacle.

9. In an apparatus for handling liquids, the combination ot a receptaclefor the liquids; a valve casing; having a chamber, an outlet therefrom,and a valve seat presenting an inlet from said receptacle to saidchamber; a valve in said chamber seated endwise against said seat andextendingthrough said casing into said receptacle; and a float withinsaid receptacle and connected to said valve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH E. SENDEMAN.

